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Southern Oregon University (a state college) recently fenced off my kite field and locked it up. I jumped the 3 ft. Fence and started flying my kite. The campus police came and escorted me off. I was informed that the public is no longer welcome on school grounds (paid for with my tax dollars). The field is unused most of the time.It has happened, kite flying is now against the law in Ashland Oregon.CV

This is a problem that WILL become more common. A while ago the local council banned 2 line kites on MY beach and all other local beaches. I thought it was just a mistake in signage, but it was not. I had to spend a lot of time campaigning to get access to the beach. Newspapers, council meeting and a lot of letter writing. I also had to keep my cool. Initially I was for a 10 lb hammer to the sign and a broken nose for any one who thought they could remove me from the beach for flying a kite. Not a good idea, actually very bad. So after a concerted effort the local council lifted the ban on most beaches and gave me a season on my beach, which is a very busy beach in the tourist season. I still fly out of season but make sure I do not get in any ones way.

So... I think you should approach the Powers that Be and ask to use the field. Be reasonable stay calm and do not take no for an answer. Get the local press to run an article on this HOT issue. Write the local politicians. Get kite organisations to write to the PTB. Tie it in with other local issues health art what ever.. have a go!

The university recently moved a road right through the middle of my favorite field. Their right of course. Now there are two smaller fields next to a busy road and closer to the trees. Sigh. Have found a couple of other local soccer fields and schools that work ok if I time it right. Not the same though.

Years ago I was escorted off another university field by a sports coach for flying model airplanes much the way you were. I told him I worked there but he wasn't much impressed. The model engines were noisy so I understood that.

If you have access to a good field, count you blessings and stay on friendly terms with other users and the PTB.

SOUNDS LIKE OVERCROWDED HELL HOLES!It is amazing that the local councils do not profit on it?I share my air space with Sea Eagles and sand without footprints.When Micron takes flight the Eagles always hang around looking in awe.......

That sucks! Fortunately I don't have that problem, but I am also in the middle of the continent. I hope you are able to find a suitable place to fly. I am continually amazed by schools kicking people off open land that is not interfering with any other activity. I am proud of kite fliers who are respectful of other peoples space and don't want to be a nuisance. Some people just want to be jags. Keep up the respectful fight!

Don't post much but this is a topic near and dear. We fly at a park that has several baseball fields and lots of Little Leaguers sharing the area with RC flyers and golf ball chippers. As kiters we try to always be safe and respectful of the space not always the case with some others. Those that abuse the space "mess it up" for everybody. Florida is also a beach state you CAN'T fly in the dunes or harass the sea turtle mounds. Time to educate some folks that kiters want to protect the field so we have a place to fly for a long time to come not destroy the area or be a problem so we're constantly looking for fields that may work for now. Some calm explanation has seemed to work (even with cops). We even flew at a local mall that liked the idea we drew a crowds to their businesses. I guess the up shot of this is we need to educate and protect.

I am continually amazed by schools kicking people off open land that is not interfering with any other activity. I am proud of kite fliers who are respectful of other peoples space and don't want to be a nuisance. Some people just want to be jags. Keep up the respectful fight!

The issue with that, and many private property is that they don't want the liability. If a person is injured on their property then the person is probably going to pursue recovery. You can argue it's right or wrong... it does not matter. A claim will have been filed under that parties insurance and if a lawsuit is filed then even the defense could _easily_ cost $20,000 - $30,000.

This is also the whole reason why the AKA has an insurance policy... so that AKA'ers can obtain insurance for events which are usually held on public (managed) or private property.

The insurance issue was ultimately the agenda here as well. This issue can be addressed, but the local politicians are the one's to work on. They can put in place schemes to enable multi use of areas. A lot of unfavourable publicity or a groundswell of negative public opinion will get them moving. The local press was good for me, they even ran an opinion poll that you could vote for on line. I then stacked the odds by getting the local kiteboarder forum to post an article to vote for kites on this poll. Guess what 98% of votes were for kite use on local beaches. Write to all the local pollies, one will be on your side. Talk to that person as to what you can do. Write letters to any one you think may be interested or is involved. Go to local council meetings with plenty of supporters.I earn my living as a gardener and so I am pretty good with a shovel but had no experience with pen and paper. I learnt a lot from this issue and the biggest lesson was that you can make a difference but it is not easy.

So far in the UK we are left alone,and as a member of Solent Kite Flyers I am insured for Public Liability. I am able to fly on our local beaches all year , kite surfers on some are regulated. In summer we are joined by mass holiday makers and the beaches are very crowded but as long as you are obviously in control you are left alone. But I forsee that this may not continue as novices, seeing competent Flyers will have a go flying?? over people and as such problems will occur, possibly leading to bans. I am seeing more school fields being fenced off there by making them not accessable to us flyers. It may happen here that bans are imposed (pray not). We will watch and prepare to stand and rally. Heres hoping it won`t happen after all all we want to do is Fly and Chill. No Stress.

I recall when I joined a kite club and we talked about this I was told that initially they would set up meetings with the city where the beach was located that they flew on. They would explain kites and what they did and sought any questions. I think this went a long way in smoothing over any issues before they started.

I remember attempted to get permission to fly an indoor kite in a Rec Center. They shot me down right away. They said the kite would get caught in the lights. I left, upset. I brought the kite back in and showed it to them. They had no idea the kite looked like that and that it only has 15' lines. Many people who don't fly kites have no idea what goes on.

Usually the person who speaks first is the person others listen the most to. So being pro-active might be the best way to address possible future issues.

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